Power-transmission gearing.



W. (H-KIRK.

POWER TRANSMISSION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED I'EIB.26, 1910; 983,452, Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETS--SHEET-1.'

nn: NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON, D c.

w. e. KIRK; POWER TRANSMISSION GBARING.

' APPLICATION FILED FBILZG, 1910. 983 A52, Patented Feb. 7,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

tinrrn VTILLIAM C. KIRK, OF CEATTANOOGA, TENNESSiEE, ASSIGNOR TO PATTENMANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF OHAT'IANOOGA, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OFTENNESSEE.

POWER-TRANSMISSION GEARING.

esaisa.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM G. KIRK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements inPower-Transmission Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in powertransmission gearing and it proposes a system of planetary gearingwherein variable speed effects may be had by determinations of thedegree of braking pressure applied to a wheel, herein termed forconvenience, a planet drum.

One object of the invention is the provision of a novel gear system ofthe type and for the purpose stated which is characterized by simplicityof assemblage, a reduction'of friction to a minimum degree, andprovision against the injurious effects of stresses.

A further object of the invention is a system of gearing of the typestated wherein the transmission parts and their adjuncts are assembledin a novel manner as a selfcontained unit.

A further object of the invention is a system of gearing of the typestated wherein the relations of the parts are such that the speed may beregulated at any desired degree between zero and the maximum, with theutmost nicety and accuracy.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in combination witha gear system of the type stated, of novel controlling means possessinga number of intrinsically meritorious features.

Transmission gearing in accordance with the present invention may beadvantageously employed in various connections. A specific applicationof the gearing and also an advantageous embodiment thereof, aredisclosed in this specification. In each instance, 2'. e. of theembodiment and its application, the sp cific disclosure is by way ofexample and is not intended to put any limitation on the scope of theclaims, not inherent in the language thereof.

Tn this specification the invention is disclosed in its application to ahoisting apparatus of the general type disclosed in the U. S. patents toCarl T. Painter, Nos. 818,115, granted April 1'7, 1906, and 870/158,granted November 5, 1907.

In the drawings wherein the exemplary Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1910.

Patented Feb. "2, 1911.

Serial No. 546,239.

embodiment and its application are disclosed with particularity: Figurel is a vertical transverse sectional View; Fig. 2 is a front elevation;Fig. 3 is'a side elevation; Fig. 4. is a section on the line 44t of Fig.1; Fig. 5 is a section 011 the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of a center bracket to be hereinafter described withparticularity; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a hand leverincluded as a part of the controlling mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detailside elevation of a combined shaft supporting bracket and lever quadrantto be hereinafter referred to.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several vlews.

The apparatus is supported on a base 1, at each end of which verticalstandards 2 are provided. The power shaft, as 3, is sustained by thesestandards and also by a bearing bracket, as 1, which, with regard to thepresent disclosure, may be aptly termed a center bracket, the wordcenter being indicative of the relation of this bracket in theparticular embodiment now under consideration.

The hoisting mechanism to which general reference has been made includestwo sheaves 5 and 5 and a transfer sheave, as 6, which is horizontallydisposed at the front portion of the base. The elevator or other cable(not shown) is passed, in the well known manner, one or more timesaround the sheaves 5, 6, and 5 the sheaves 5 and 5 turning in oppositedirections.

The sheaves 5 and 5 have axially extended hollow hub ournals, as 7,which take their bearings in the standards 2, and the shaft 3 is passedthrough the hub journals 7 and through the center bracket 1, having abearing in, and being directly supported by the latter. The centerbracket is bolted or otherwise secured to the base 1, and is providedwith a horizontal tubular portion, as 8, through which the shaft 3extends and at the center of which and in the plane of the body of thebracket, is a spacing rib or projection, as 9, for a purpose which willhereinafter appear.

Each of the sheaves 5 and 5 is provided with. an inwardly projectingflange, as 10, having its inner peripheral face formed with spur teeth,as 11. Each flange 10.. is thus constituted a part of a planetarysystem.

With regard to the present disclosure, two cooperating planetary systemsare employed, and the organization thereof includes, in addition to theinternally toothed flanges 10, the planet drums previously referred toand designated by the numerals l2 and 12 to indicate their relation tothe sheaves 5 and 5 respectively. Each of the drums 12 and 12 hasassociated therewith two or more planet wheels, as 13, these be ing.disposed at the outer side of each drum and being mounted onhorizontal, laterally projecting pins, as 14. The planetary organizationalso includes, as driving elements, spur wheels, designated by thenumerals 15 and 15 to indicate their relation to the planet wheels ofthe drums 12 and 12*, respectively. The spur wheels 15 and 15 are faston the shaft 3, the wheel 15 meshing with the planet wheels of the drum12 and these in turn meshing with the teeth of the flange of the sheave5, and the wheel 15, in like manner, meshing with the planet Wheels ofthe drum 12 which in turn mesh with the teeth of the flange of thesheave 5 The planet drums are provided with cylindrical hubs, as 16,which rotatably surround the tubular portion 8 of the bracket at and therib or projection 9 serves to maintain the drums in properly spacedrelation. The center bracket thus, in addition to supporting the shaft3, constitutes also a support and journal bearing for each of the drums.

The operation of each planetary system is controlled by two brake bands.In the present case, where the organization comprehends two cooperatingand related planetary systems four brake bands are employed. The brakebands for the flanges 10 are designated 17 and 17 in accordance withtheir association with the respective sheaves 5 and 5 and the brakebands for the drums 12 and 12 are, in like manner, designated by thenumerals 18 and 18*.

The brake bands 17 and 17* are, with relation to one another, appliedand released in unison, while the brake bands 18 and 18 are, withrelation to one another, applied and released in alternation. It isaccordingly of advantage to employ one means for operating the bands 17and 17*, and an additional means for operating the bands 18 and 18.Taking up first the adjuncts of the bands 17 and 17 The center bracket 1is, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, provided near its base, with atransverse rectangular opening, as 19, in which is adjustably fitted atransversely disposed block, as 20. The latter is held in any desiredposition in the opening 19, by an adjusting and retainingv screw, as 21,and is spring pressed against said screw. The block 20' is providedatits ends with axially projecting pins to which ends of the bands 17and,l7 are secured. The bands 17 and 17 extend forwardly from the block20, over the flanges 10, and their movable ends are secured to suitablyconstructed arms, as 22, which are provided on a transverse rockershaft, as 23. The latter takes its bearings in the base 1, as shown inFig. 1, and has an end portion which projects be yond said base and isprovided with oppositely extending arms, as 21 and 25. The arm 21 isprovided with a weight, as 26, and the arm 25 is provided with atreadle, as 27. The bands 17 and 17 are held in a normal releasedposition by the weight 26. When the treadle is depressed against theinfluence of the weight, the shaft 23 is rocked and said bands areapplied. In order to hold said bands in their applied posi tion, alaterally movable notched detent, as 28, is employed. The detent 28 ispivoted to a bracket arranged at the side of the base, as shown in Figs.2 and 3, and is so shaped as to be moved inwardly by the arm 25 duringits descent and to swing by gravity over said arm when the latter passesthe notch in said detent. When it is desired to release the bands, thedetent is moved out of engagement with the arm 23, the operator usinghis foot for this purpose, and the weight 26 restores the partsto normalpositions. It will be apparent that the block 20 equalizes the tensionof the bands 17 and 17 and moreover, that the absolute maximum tensionor pressure of said bands, may be regulated within certain limits, bydisposing the block at a determined position in the opening 19. Theadjustment of the position of the block 20 is effected by turning thescrew 21. Positioning the block toward the rearward end of the openingby moving the screw inwardly, increases the absolute maximum pressurewhile position ing the block toward the forward end of the opening bymoving the screw outwardly, decreases the absolute maximum pressure.When the screw is turned outwardly, the block is urged to follow thesame by a spring, as 20, which is fitted in the opening 19.

Taking up now the bands 18 and 18 and their adjuncts: The center bracketat is provided near its upper end, with a cross piece, as 29, to whichends of the bands 18 and 18 are secured by suitable devices, 6. g.eyebolts. The bands 18 and 18 extend rearwardly from the cross piece 29,over the drums 12 and 12 and their movable ends are connected to armswhich are designated by the numerals 80 and 3O to indicate theirassociation with the respective bands 18 and 1.8 The arms 30 and 30 aremounted upon a transverse rocker shaft, as 31, which takes its bearingsin the bracket 4 and also in a bracket, as 32, arranged at one end ofthebase and shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. The

arms 30 and 30" project from the shaft 31, at a suitable angle to oneanother, such angle being preferably somewhat less than a right angle,as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This disposition provides that the band 18 isin engagement with the drum 12 when the band 18 is out of engagementwith the drum 12 and vice versa. The shaft 31 has an end portion whichprojects beyond the bracket and carries an upstanding hand lever, as 33.The latter is provided with a slidable spring-pressed roller carryingblock, as 34, (Fig. 7) which is held against a quadrant, as 35, that isformed integral with or otherwise secured to the bracket 32 (Fig. 8).The quadrant 35 is provided with a central notch 36, in which the rollerof the block 34; engages, to hold the lever and therewith its associatedparts, in their intermediate or neutral positions. The pressure withwhich the roller is engaged in the notch, while of sufficient degree toguard against accidental movement of the lever as an incident of jars orstresses, does not interfere with the manual movement of the lever.

In operation: The shaft 3 is .driven continuously in one direction fromany suitable motor, a pinion, as 3-, or it might be a belt wheel orother device, being provided as a transmission element. When the brakesl7 and 17 are both applied and the brakes 18 and 18 are both released(the lever 33 being in its intermediate position), the drums 12 and 12revolve idly 011 the hubs of the center bracket, in the same directionas the shaft 3. If it be assumed that the drum 12 is held stationary,while the drum 12 is free, the sheave 5 is driven in an oppositedirection to the shaft 3 and the sheave 5 consequent to the pull of thecable, is revolved in the same direction as said shaft and in anopposite direction to the sheave 5. If it be assumed on the other handthat the drum 12 is held stationary, the sheave 5 is driven in anopposite direction to the shaft 3 and the sheave 5, consequent to thepull of the cable, is revolved in the same direction as said shaft andin an opposite direction to the sheave 5 The reversal of the directionof rotation of the sheaves is effected by reversing the relation of theband brakes 18 and 18. A movement of the lever 33 to the right from itsneutral position, (when the drawings only are considered) applies thebrake 18 and releases the brake 18 In like manner a movement of thelever to the left applies the brake 18 and releases the brake 18. Thedegree of speed of the sheaves 5 and 5 is determined by the degree ofpressure of the corresponding brakes 18 and 18*. For example, when thebrake 18 is applied with its maximum pressure, the sheave 5 attains itsmaximum speed, and if this pressure is suflicient to hold the drumstationary, said sheave will attain its absolute maximum speed. As thepressure of the brake is reduced, so also is the speed of the sheavereduced, as will be apparent. An easy and gradual reversing operation isthus provided for as well as any desired regulation of the speed of thedriven sheave. In effecting the speed regulating or varying operations,the brakes 17 and 1.7 may be advantageously employed in cooperation withthe brakes 18 and 18 as will be apparent.

By reason of the manner in which the center bracket is related to theplanet drums and the power shaft, friction is reduced to a minimum, andat the same time the injurious effects of stresses are prevented. Forexample, the stress incident to the application of the bands 18 and 18is taken up by the center bracket. The latter is thus not liable todistortion and it follows that the parts will always be maintained inproper alinement and relation. The construction is also of advantage inthat the center bracket and the parts associated therewith, have aself-contained organization which provides for compactness ofassemblage, more ready portability, greater ease in assembling anddisassembling the machine, and the elimination of pressure or stresses,on the power shaft.

It will be understood that such designations as power driven, planet andthe like, occurring in the appended claims, are used in a relative andnot an absolute sense, as the arrangement is peculiarly of such naturethat the function herein assigned to the several parts may beinterchangeably assigned to related parts, without materially affectingthe basic principles of structure and operation which the inventioncomprehends. For example, the shaft 3 is termed the power shaft, simplybecause it is herein shown as the part from which the power istransmitted. It will be obvious that if desired the shaft 3 may, incertain cases, be employed as the part to which the power is transmittedwithout any departure from the aforesaid basic principles.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a driven elementrotatably surrounding the same and having an annular row of gear teeth,a bracket having a tubular portion through which the power shaftextends, a planet drum having a hub portion which surrounds the tubularportion as a bearing, gear wheels carried by the planet drum and in meshwith said gear teeth, a gear wheel fast on the power shaft and in meshwith said gear wheels and a braking device for the planet drum.

2. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a pair of drivenelements rotatably surrounding the same, a center bracket having atubular portion through which the power shaft extends, a pair of planetdrums, each having a hub portion which is concentric to the tubularportion, the latter sustaining the drums, each driven element having anannular row of gear teeth, gear wheels carried by each planet drum forintermeshing engagement with the teeth of the adjacent driven element, apair of gear wheels fast on the shaft and in intermeshing engagementwith the pinions of the respec tively adjacent planet drums, and abraking device for each planet drum.

3. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a pair of drivenelements rotatably surrounding the same, a center bracket having atubular portion through which the power shaft extends, a pair of planetdrums, each having a hub portion which is concentric to the tubularportion, the latter sustaining the drums, each driven element having anannular row of gear teeth, gear wheels carried by each planet drum forinter-meshing engagement with the teeth of the adjacent driven element,a pair of gear wheels fast on the shaft and in intermeshing engagementwit-lithe pinions of the respectively adjacent planet drums, a brakeband for each planet drum, each brake band having a fixed end and amovable end, and means for simultaneously operating the brake bandscomprising a transverse rocker shaft and a pair of arms secured theretoand to which the movable ends of the respectively adjacent brake bandsare secured, the arms being disposed at an angle to one another.

4. A power transmission system including a power shaft, an elementrotatably surrounding the same, and having an annular row of gear teeth,a second element surrounding the shaft, gear wheels earried by thesecond element and in mesh with the gear teeth, a gear wheel fast on theshaft and in mesh with the gear wheels of the second element, a brakeband for one of the elements, the brake band having a fixed and amovable end, and brake band operating means comprising a rocker shafthaving an arm to which the movable end of the brake band is attached, aweighted arm secured to the shaft to hold the same in a normal position,an operating arm secured to the shaft and a displaceable detent forengagement with the operating arm.

5. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a pair ofelements rotatably surrounding the same, each of which has an annularrow of gear teeth, a second pair of elements surrounding the shaft, gearwheels carried by the second elements and in mesh with the gear teeth ofthe respectively adjacent first mentioned elements, a pair of gearwheels fast on the shaft and in mesh with the gear wheels of therespectively adjacent second mentioned elements, a pair of brake bandsfor one of the pairs of elements, brake band operating means, a parthaving a reotangular opening, a block fitted in the opening and a screwthreaded through the part and bearing against the block, the brake bandshaving ends secured to the block, and having ends associated with theoperating means.

6. A power transmission system, including a power shaft, a pair ofdriven elements rotatably surrounding the same and each having anannular row of gear teeth, a pair of planet drums having their hubsconcentric to the shaft, gear wheels carried by the planet drums andwhich mesh with the teeth of the respectively adjacent driven elements,a pair of gear wheels fast on the shaft and in mesh with the gear wheelsof the respectively adjacent planet drums, a pair of braking devices forthe driven elements and a second pair of braking devices for the planetdrums, the first pair of devices being simultaneously operated insimilar relations and the second pair of devices being simultaneouslyoperated in opposite relations.

7. A power transmission system including a power shaft, :1 pair ofdriven elements rotatably surrounding the same and having internallytoothed flanges, a center bracket having a horizontal tubular portionthrough =whieh the power shaft extends, a pair of planet drums disposedbetween the driven elements and having hub portions rotatablysurrounding the tubular portion, pinions carried by each planet drum andin mesh with the adjacent toothed flanges, pinions provided on the powershaft and in mesh with the pinions of the adjacent planet drum, a pairof brake bands for the driven elements, means for fixedly associatingends of the brake bands with the center bracket, operating meansassociating with the movable ends of the brake hands, a second pair ofbrake bands for the planet drums, means for fixedly associating the endsof the second brake bands with the center bracket, and operating meansassociating with the movable ends of the second brake bands.

8. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a pair of gearwheels fast thereon, companion elements associated in two pairs on saidshaft, each pair of companion elements consisting of a driven elementand a controlling element, one of the companion elements of each pairhaving an annular row of gear teeth, gear wheels carried by the othercompanion element of each pair and in mesh with the gear teeth of thefirst named companion element and with the adjacent gear wheel of thepower shaft, and braking devices for the controlling elements.

9. A power transmission system including a power shaft and a gear wheelfast thereon, a driven element rotatably surrounding the power shaft andhaving an annular row of gear teeth, a planet drum constituting acompanion element of the driven element and having a hub concentric tothe driven shaft, gear wheels carried by the planet drum and in meshwith the gear teeth and also with the gear wheel on the power shaft, anda brake band for each of the companion elements, the brake bands beingoperated in opposite relations.

10. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a drivenelement rotatably surrounding the same, a bracket having a tubularportion through which the power shaft extends, a planet drumconstituting a companion element of the driven element, one of thecompanion elements having a hub portion which surrounds the tubularportion as a bearing, gear wheels carried by the planet drum and in meshwith said gear teeth, and a gear wheel fast on the power shaft and inmesh with the gear wheels of the planet drum.

11. A power transmission system including a power shaft, a pair of gearwheels fast thereon, a pair of elements surrounding the shaft and eachhaving an annular row of teeth, a second pair of elements alsosurrounding the shaft, forming companions of the respective first namedelements, gear wheels carried by the elements of the second pair and inmesh with the gear teeth of the respectively adjacent first namedelements and also in mesh with the respectively adjacent gear wheels ofthe power shaft, the elements of one pair having a controlling relationto the elements of the other pair, the latter being driven elements,brake bands for the controlling elements and having fixed and movableends, and brake band operating means comprising a rocker shaft havingangularly disposed arms to which the movable ends of the respectivelyadjacent brake bands are secured.

12. The combination with a pair of driven elements rotatable in oppositedirections, of power transmission mechanism including a shaft which isconcentric with the hubs of the driven elements, gear wheels fast on theshaft, a pair of controlling elements forming companions of the drivenelements, the elements of one pair each having an annular row of teeth,gear wheels carried by the elements of the other pair and in mesh withthe adjacent gear wheel of the power shaft and with the teeth of theadjacent companion element, and a braking device for each controllingelement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. KIRK. Vitnesses:

ANNIE L. J OHNSON, W. G. MGMURRAY.

